XFX, the world’s leader in high-performance video cards (www.xfxforce.com), has created the XFX Challenge Reality show hosted by Scot Rubin, chronicling the quest to find the next great American pro gamers. The two debut webisodes have now launched at www.xfxteam.com and are also available at www.gametrailers.com.

The first episode titled “A Hollywood Welcome” chronicles when the original seven members of Team XFX meet, see the tour bus for the first time and then play its first benchmarking performance with the top pro team, LA Complexity. In episode two, El Dorado Hills, CA Team XFX gets to know each other better, takes on its first immunity challenge, chooses its first Team captain, and has its first all-important 1-on-1 elimination challenge. Episodes three and four are set to debut in July with the season’s final episode airing in September.

Along the tour, five finalists and two alternates traveled on a fully-equipped rock-star gaming tour bus, competing in Counter-Strike: Source to win prizes and money in major gaming tournaments and defending their spot on the bus against challengers. While on the road, XFX contestants were coached by CGS pros, including as Fatal1ty, to sharpen their gaming skills in preparation for the next Championship Gaming Series (CGS) World Championships in December.

The team learned quickly that life as a touring professional isn’t always fun and games. With the help of XFX and CGS, the team enjoyed an seven-week immersion in gaming strategy and team building to try and develop the skills necessary to not only take on— but defeat—the reigning champions in an exhibition match. They played through a series of event tours, with each stop offering amateur gamers one-on-one opportunities to defeat a member of the Team and take their place on the bus.

Last year’s final five Team XFX players earned a spot at The Championship Gaming Series 2008 Region 1 Qualifier, where they became eligible for the 2008 Region 1 Draft and a possible contract to play for a CGS team.

Team XFX is made up of players ages 19 to 24: Jon “Jono” Fong, Joe “Dubs” Wishnia, Carlo “Al|ve” Ortega, May “Pierce” Zhang, Joshua “Haqshot” Lanigan, David “Casso” Marquez and Chris “Deppy” DePaul, Arvin “Tech” Wang, Michael “mikeytuX” Perez and tour manager Justin “Party Boy” Loresco.